Locals support death penalty for Holmes

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -- Monday prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty for the accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes.

Those inside the courtroom said Holmes had no visible response after learning his possible fate, but here locally, people have strong opinions on this latest development.

"It's absolutely right. I think it's absolutely fair. What he did was horrible, and those people need to have representation, and I think he is getting what he deserves," said Lara Formisano.

The death penalty announcement comes just days after prosecutors rejected an offer by defense attorneys that bargained for a guilty plea and life in prison for Holmes. Local resident Charles Ballard said he's glad they rejected it.

"There's no question, no doubt that he did commit the crime. I don't think it's right that I should have to spend the rest of my life paying for him to have free food, free health care and to leach off of society," said Ballard.

A death penalty case could take years to resolve, and it's likely that an insanity defense will be launched, which means mental evaluations and more court time.

People today said it is for situations like this one that Colorado has the death penalty.

The trial that was set to begin in August has been pushed to February 2014, more than a year and a half after Holmes was arrested for the shooting.

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